A newly relocated Laanecoorie Reservoir’s Brownbill Reserve boat ramp will make getting out on the water easier and reduce congestion during summer at the popular central Victorian destination.
Member for Ripon Martha Haylett said work is underway on the $800,000 project thanks to the Victorian Government’s Better Boating Fund, which reinvests recreational boaters’ licence and registration fees.
Ramp manager Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) is managing construction, which will see a new concrete ramp laid down and parking area created to the west of the current site, easing congestion during peak periods and ensuring boaters don’t need to pass through a zone reserved for swimming to access open water.
Laanecoorie Reservoir dams the Loddon River near Dunolly and can see up to 200 users enjoying time on or in the water on a busy summer’s day. The Brownbill Reserve ramp is located near the dam wall and the Laanecoorie Lakeside Resort at the northern end of the reservoir.
The existing launching spot will be decommissioned replaced with a like-for-like concrete ramp about 160 metres west, with a gravel parking area featuring enough space for 12 cars and trailers.
Laanecoorie sees a mix of users with fishing popular throughout the year, while many families hit the water to ski, tow a donut or even sail during the warmer months.
Laanecoorie has been stocked with 825,000 Murray cod and golden perch since 2014 as part of the Victorian Fisheries Authority’s record-breaking stocking program, which saw 11.5 million fish released across Victoria in 2023-24.
While access to the old facility will not be available for boats when work is complete, paddlers will be able to use it to launch kayaks and canoes. The old parking area will also remain available for boaters, paddlers and fishers casting a line from the shore, a short walk from the new ramp.
Like the existing ramp, the new facility will provide boating access at water levels down to around 50 per cent. The reservoir is being lowered by GMW to allow construction to take place over coming weeks.
It’s expected the new ramp will be open in time for summer boating adventures. While work is underway the area will be closed, with boaters able to get out on the water via the nearby Ankers Causeway ramp on Eddington-Laanecoorie Road.
Minister for Outdoor Recreation Steve Dimopoulos said “The upgrade at Brownbill Reserve really is a win for all users, with launching and parking made easier for boaters while swimmers will be provided with plenty of space at this popular holiday destination.”
“It’s another example of recreational boaters’ licence and registration fees being put back into projects that will make getting out on the water easier and see a day in the great outdoors all the more enjoyable for everyone.”
GMW Loddon/Campaspe Storage Manager Paul Wakenshaw said “The upgrade is great news for visitors to Laanecoorie Reservoir. It will enhance safety and reduce congestion by separating high-speed boating areas from foreshore bathing zones, while also improving overall site accessibility.”
